Report: Arteta doesn't think 28-year-old is good enough for PL, Arsenal now ready to sell him for just £13m

By Shamanth Jayaram

According to Italian outlet Citta Celeste, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is ready to sell Pablo Mari this summer.

The Spanish defender joined the Gunners from Flamengo in January 2020, initially on loan. That move was made permanent in the following summer, but Mari hasn’t quite been able to become a regular at Arsenal.

In his two years at the Emirates, the 28-year played just 22 times. Injuries played a part in that, but he was never going to start ahead of Gabriel Magalhaes at left centre-half for Arsenal.

With William Saliba set to return to the club this summer, Mari’s future looks bleaker, and Arsenal are prepared to let him go if the right offer arrives.

• ‘We will’: Sporting director confirms his side will try to sign Pablo Mari from Arsenal

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is ready to sell Pablo Mari

Mari joined Udinese on loan in January this year and his performances were impressive. He played 15 times for the Italian club and even managed to score a couple of goals for them.

Udinese, unsurprisingly, are keen to re-sign him this summer, but they aren’t the only horse in the race. Fellow Serie A outfit Lazio are also reportedly interested, and Arsenal are ready to let him go.

The report claims that Arteta does not think his compatriot is suitable for the Premier League. He has no plans to reintegrate the defender into his squad next season, and there’s a good chance he will be sold.

Arsenal are reportedly demanding £13 million for Mari this summer. That has apparently complicated any potential deal for Lazio and Udinese, who were both only looking for a loan deal with an option to buy him next year.

• Report: Top-flight club hope to sign 28-year-old Arsenal star Pablo Mari this summer

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Even though he never quite managed to nail down a place at Arsenal, Mari is a decent defender. His positional awareness is fantastic, he’s really good in the air and he’s not too bad with the ball at his feet either.

However, he’s just not getting ahead of any of Arsenal’s current centre-halves – Ben White, Gabriel, Rob Holding and Saliba.

That makes a move away this summer the best thing for all parties involved, but if the Gunners stand firm on their £13 million demand, it’s unlikely that Lazio or Udinese can get the deal over the line.

It will be interesting to see what Arteta will do with Mari if Arsenal cannot push him out in the next two months.

• Arsenal staff all absolutely love pablo Mari, even though he wants to leave the Emirates – journalist